Can bottle-fed calves drink store bought milk?

[arllcountrygirl]

You can use it or not. I have never used it for scours. Just weak calves or calves that are stressed. If he is not either, then don't worry about it. Sometimes when they get into a new environment, they stress. I just figured that since you just got him, it might be a precaution you would want to take. I have raised a ton of bottle calves and worked for many years on a dairy farm and even use to show them. Just sharing a secret.

BTW - Congrats on the calf. Jerseys are my favorite.

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

well thats good to know! He had over a 3 hour ride to my house, so I'll give it to him. He doesnt act too stressed, but it would be a nice pre-caution....hes has become my son...seriously...i have a lot of livestock and hes the only one I own that I actually feel bonded with lol.....so im just extra protective of him now lol.....i always feel horrible leaving him after a bottle feeding...he just wails for a while and it makes me so upset

him and my rooster, rhino, have become buddies! they live together right now lol....its quite funny actually....

 

[arllcountrygirl]

LOL!! I know what you mean.

I had a little black and white bull when I was little - his name was Ferdinand, (I loved that book) and his best friend was a heavy broiler white hen, that I rescued. She would lay her eggs in his stall and sleep on his back. They stayed together 24-7. He wore a bell around his neck and the only way he could get it off was if he was butting something. Well, one morning I went out to check on them and she wasn't to be found. I did find a pile of feathers and his bell in the middle. We believe it was a fox and Ferdinand tried to help her. I really hate that he lost his buddy that way. Sorry - just wanted to share that they are intelligent animals and can bond with others.

PS - don't let him talk you into giving him extra.

 

[cutiepieacres]

I never use milk replacer with my baby goats just whole cows milk from the store and because I have pygmies I add in cream since their milk is extra fatty. I had problems with replacers giving them tummy issues but with the whole milk I had never had one baby get any sort of upset tummy and they grow great.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
me too.. you are not doing them any favors by mixing the replacer stronger than recommended..

and be very careful when you switch them from one food to another.. ie. milk to replacer..

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Mix the milk replacer as stated on the package. Mixing it weak just robs the calf of nutrition. You shouldn't get scours due to the milk replacer if mixed per directions on a young calf-a jersey calf is small breed so 1 1/2 quarts of water with the milkreplacer. Check his sides when he's done eating. They should be roughly flat out with his ribs. If rounded cut the water back a little next time. If still caved then add a little more water next time. Also, he is plenty old enough to be put on a pail.

An older calf that has access to grain or high protein grass/hay will need the milk replacer cut back due to the high protein, which will cause scours. Once on milk replacer don't switch back to milk. That is a huge scour cause. Get a milk protein milk replacer and not a soy based one as they are inferrior.

Probios or yogurt (natural live culture) are a good probiotic if he seems a little unsettled from the trip you could give him either of these to help.

Come visit us at

 

[sara]

I would not give store bought milk. Whenever you change an animals diet abruptly it causes stress, which in calves can cause scours. A 3 hour trip would be very hard on a a newborn calf in my opinion.

 

[deerman]

Would also not feed store bought milk, the cream has been remove. Yes any change can give them scours. One of the biggest killer of bucket calfs